You don’t have to be a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, or a teacher.

You don’t have to be single or married, a mother or a father.

You don’t have to be good or bad, successful or down and out and broke.

The fact is, who we are as individuals and our purpose here is our choice. It’s funny really—we tell ourselves that, but struggle living it.

We Define Our Reality

Whether we want to take ownership of it or not, we define our reality—day in and day out.  Sure, we can blame our current “have to” on our upbringing, our parents, our spouse, or significant other, our school counselor, our therapist, our minister, or anyone else that pops into our mind. But we are the only ones who define what we have to be. And, chances are, if you are like me, your ‘have to’ may change from time to time. It may even drift from one to another throughout the course of a day. But at the end of every day, the inner structure, our foundation, our core should always stay the same. It is the core of who we are that we should weave into every defining facet of our lives.

Choose Your Own “Have to Be”

Yes, I am a doctor and a father. Yes, I am a writer, speaker, and musician who dreams of one day making money at it. Yes, I can be good and bad, healthy and unhealthy. But, my foundation, the core of who I am—caring, considerate, honest, creative, hard-working, and a bit crazy has never changed.

Whether I am speaking as a physician, a writer, a musician, a friend, or a family member, I encourage YOU to define YOUR ‘have to.’ Be real; be honest. Get to know you, define you, and then, when it comes to defining your choices, you be the first judge. I have a feeling you will be your hardest critic, so worry less about what others are saying about your life and more about #LiveYourValue.

Remember, this world would not be the same without you in it

-Dr. D